Tupolev Tu-22M

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupolev_Tu-22M

The Tupolev Tu-22M (Russian: ??????? ??-22?; NATO reporting name: Backfire) is a
supersonic, variable-sweep wing, long-range strategic and maritime strike bomber
developed by the Tupolev Design Bureau. According to some sources, the bomber
was believed to be designated Tu-26 at one time. During the Cold War, the Tu-22M
was operated by the Soviet Air Force (VVS) in a strategic bombing role, and by
the Soviet Naval Aviation (Aviacija Vojenno-Morskogo Flota, AVMF) in a
long-range maritime anti-shipping role. Significant numbers remain in service
with the Russian Air Force, and as of 2014 more than 100 Tu-22Ms are in use.

In 1962, with the introduction of the Tu-22, it became increasingly clear that
the aircraft was considerably inadequate in its role as a bomber. In addition to
widespread unserviceability and maintenance issues, the Tu-22’s handling
characteristics proved to be dangerous. Its landing speed was some 100 km/h (60
mph) greater than previous bombers and it had a tendency to pitch up and strike
its tail upon landing. It was difficult to fly, and had poor all-round
visibility. In 1962, Tupolev commenced work on major update of the Tu-22.
Initially, the bureau planned to add a variable-sweep wing and uprated engines
into the updated design. The design was tested at TsAGI’s wind tunnels at
Zhukovsky.

Role
Strategic bomber/Maritime strike

Manufacturer
Tupolev

First flight
30 August 1969

Introduction
1972

Status
In service

Primary users
Soviet Air Forces (historical)
Russian Air Force
Ukrainian Air Force

Produced
1967–1997

Number built
497

Developed from
Tupolev Tu-22

The Tu-22M was first used in combat in Afghanistan. It was deployed December
1987 to January 1988, during which the aircraft flew strike missions in support
of the Soviet Army's attempt to relieve the Mujahideens' siege against the city
of Khost. Two squadrons of aircraft from the 185th GvBAP based at Poltava were
deployed to Maryy-2 air base in Turkmenistan. Capable of dropping large tonnages
of conventional ordnance, the aircraft bombed enemy forts, bases and material
supplies. In October 1988, the aircraft was again deployed against the
Mujahideen. Sixteen Tu-22M3s were used to provide cover to Soviet forces that
were pulling out of the country. The Tu-22Ms were tasked with destroying paths
of access to Soviet forces, attacking enemy forces at night to prevent
regrouping, and to attack incoming supplies from Iran and Pakistan. Working
alongside 30 newly arrived MiG-27s, the aircraft also flew missions aimed at
relieving the besieged city of Kandahar. The aircraft had its last Afghan
operation in January 1989 at Salang pass.

The Tu-22M suffered from widespread maintenance issues during its service with
the Soviet forces. These stemmed from poor manufacturing quality. The engines
and airframes in particular had low service lives. The Air Force at one point
sought to prosecute Tupolev for allegedly rushing the inadequate designs of the
Tu-22M and the Tu-160 into service. This was compounded by the government
bureaucracy, which hampered the provision of spare parts to allow the servicing
of the Tu-22M. With some aircraft grounded for up to six months, the
mission-capable rate of the aircraft in August 1991 hovered around 30–40%.

On 17 November 2015, as part of its air campaign in Syria, Russia used 12
Tu-22M3 bombers to hit targets in Syria, along with cruise missiles fired from
the Mediterranean and Tu-95 and Tu-160 strategic bombers. 22–31 January 2016,
Tu-22M3s reportedly conducted 42 sorties performing airstrikes in the vicinity
of Deir ez-Zor city. On the morning of 12 July 2016, six Tu-22M3 bombers carried
out a concentrated attack using high-explosive ammunition on Daesh targets east
of Palmyra, Al-Sukhnah and Arak. On 14 July, six Tu-22M3 bombers having taken
off from their base airfields in Russia delivered another massive strike on the
newly detected IS facilities in the areas east of Palmyra, as well as in
Al-Sukhnah, Arak and the T-3 oil pumping station in the province of Homs. New
raids were conducted on 21 July, 8 August, 11 August, 14 August 2016.

On 16 August 2016, the bombers began to fly missions in Syria using Iran's
Hamedan Airbase.

Since late January 2017, six Tu-22M3s resumed airstrikes in the area of Deir
ez-zor to prevent capture of the city by jihadists and again in late 2017 to
support government offensive.

Specifications (Tu-22M3)

General characteristics
Crew: 4 (pilot, co-pilot, navigator, weapon systems officer)
Length: 42.4 m (139 ft 4 in)
Wingspan:
Spread (20° sweep): 34.28 m (112 ft 6 in)
Swept (65° sweep): 23.30 m (76 ft 6 in)

Height: 11.05 m (36 ft 3 in)
Wing area:
Spread: 183.6 m² (1,976 ft²)
Swept: 175.8 m² (1,892 ft²)

Empty weight: 58,000 kg (128,000 lb)
Loaded weight: 112,000 kg (246,000 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 124,000 kg (273,000 lb) ; 126,400 kg (278,700 lb) for
rocket assisted TO
Fuel capacity: 54,000 kg (118,800 lb) internally
Powerplant: 2 × Kuznetsov NK-25 turbofans, 247.9 kN (55,100 lbf) each

Performance
Maximum speed: Mach 1.88 (2,050 km/h; 1,110 kn; 1,280 mph) at altitude (9,140 m
(30,000 ft))
Range: 6,800 km (4,200 mi; 3,700 nmi)
Combat radius: 2,410 km (1,500 mi; 1,300 nmi) with typical weapons load
Service ceiling: 13,300 m (43,600 ft)
Rate of climb: 15 m/s (2,950 ft/min)
Wing loading: 688 kg/m² (147 lb/ft²)
Thrust/weight: 0.45

Armament

Guns: 1 × 23-mm GSh-23 cannon in remotely controlled tail turret
Hardpoints: wing and fuselage pylons and internal weapons bay with a capacity of
24,000 kg (53,000 lb) of
Up to 3 × Kh-22/Kh-32 missiles in weapons bay and on wing pylons or
Up to 6 × Kh-15 missiles on a MKU-6-1 rotary launcher in its bomb bay, plus 4 ×
Raduga Kh-15 missiles on two underwing pylons for a total of 10 missiles per
aircraft.
Various sea mines and freefall bombs – 69 × FAB-250 or 8 × FAB-1500 might be
typical.

The Kh-55 (AS-15 Kent) long-range cruise missile was tested on the Tu-22M but
apparently not used in service




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